Histological Study of the Effect of Pristine Versus Functionalized Polyethylene Glycol - Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on the Lung Alveoli of the Adult Male Albino Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Faculty of Medicine Alexandria University, Histology & cell Biology department

2 Alexandria faculty of medicine, histology and cell biology departement

3 Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Histology & cell biology department

Abstract

Background: Carbon nanotubes are used in a variety of applications. However, their toxicity on different body tissues has an impact on human health. Therefore, functionalization emerged as a tool to reduce CNTs toxicity and hence expand their applications.
Aim: The goal of this study was to clarify the impact of pristine MW CNTs on lung alveoli of the adult male albino rat and the possibility of amelioration of this effect by functionalized PEG-MWCNTs.
Materials and Methods:60 adult male rats were categorized among 3 groups. Group I: control group, group II: 20 rats received an intratracheal instillation of a single dose of 1 mg/kg of pristine MWCNTs, then subdivided into two equal subgroups (each 10 rats) and were sacrificed after 3 days and 45 days respectively, group III: 20 rats were received an intratracheal instillation of a single dose of 1 mg/kg of PEG-MWCNTs and then subdivided and sacrificed as in group II. At the end of the experiment, the lungs were harvested for histological examination. The thickness of the interalveolar septum and the collagen area were morphometrically evaluated and statistically analyzed.
Results: Pristine MWCNTs caused variable degree of histological changes that were more evident after 45 days. These changes manifested by collapsed alveoli alternating with wide ones, thickening of the interalveolar septa, deposition of collagen, cellular and nuclear changes suggestive of pulmonary toxicity and accumulation of particulate laden macrophages. Morphometric and statistical studies demonstrated significant increase in the thickness of the interalveolar septa as compared to control group. Ultrastructurally, type II pneumocytes showed degenerative changes and formed the predominant cell lining. The changes were less evident by instillation of functionalized PEG-MWCNTs with more or less preservation of the normal alveolar architecture.
Conclusion: Pristine MWCNTs have a toxic effect on the lung tissue which could be reduced by functionalized PEG-MWCNTs.

Keywords

Egyptian Journal of Histology
Volume 42, Issue 4
December 2019
Pages 928-955

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